Friday, February 27, 2015

*Bookmarks is an online book club hosted at Creative2xmom. Here we discuss the books we've read in the past month as well as the suggested reading. Our suggested reading for February was The Magnificent Obsession by Anne Graham Lotz.

These are the books I read this month:

Wild by Cheryl Strayed-- Reeling from her mother's death, Cheryl turns to a downward spiral, one that ultimately leads to an abortion, divorce, and a questionable relationship laced with drug use. Desperate to find herself again, or die trying, Cheryl set off from the Mojave desert in her trek along the Pacific Crest Trail. As Strayed revealed more about her past and the decisions that led her to the PCT, it was hard to sympathize with her. However, that's also what her relatable. She doesn't gloss over the messy parts. Instead you're there with her: mess, triumphs, and all. Over her wilderness journey, meeting with a strange cast of characters that becomes a family, and the ultimate release of the past, Strayed takes us through a take of self-discovery and forgiveness... set again some of the most rugged and beautiful scenery of the western states.

Jessie Benton Fremont: California Pioneer by Marguerite Higgins-- This was assigned reading for 4th grade history. It covers the life of Jessie Fremont: an early California champion. While the history was interesting and relevant, it was written in a way that was really hard for my kids to grasp.

Our suggested reading for February was The Magnificent Obsession by Anne Graham Lotz-- What are you obsessed with? Is it your church? Your family? The rules of your religion? Your job? Lotz follows the life of Abraham, showing us just how hard God is pursuing us. Was Abraham perfect? No, but he made on pivotal decision that changed his life. He abandoned everything in pursuit of God. He laid everything aside and filled his vision with the Creator. Filled with insight, this book is one to be savored and read at a slow pass. Meditate, enjoy, savor...

So what are your bookmarks this month?

Tell us in the comments about the books you're chewing on. Or link up a review from your own blog. Let's share the books we're finding, good and bad. And give us your thoughts on Magnificent Obsession by Anne Graham Lotz.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

I love finding new ways to add art and creativity to our day. It's fun to look around your house and find all kinds of "tools" that you never realized where there before. So when I saw this idea for Marshmallow Painting on pinterest (sorry link won't work), I knew we'd have to try it. Marshmallows? So simple and absolutely something I never would have thought of.

So we got out our paint and paper and started daubbering away with our marshmallows. They make the prettiest round circles and squish when you paint with them. I thought this would be a fun activity for the three year old, but my daughter was the one that got the most into it.

Just watch out. You may find that your bag of marshmallows starts to dwindle as you paint. Or that may just be my house. :-)

Friday, February 20, 2015

Ready for another Intentional Act of Kindness Challenge? This one requires some forethought, but it's one that anyone can appreciate.

As you're planning your meals this week, think about someone you can bless with a hot meal. That might mean planning your husband or kids' favorite meal this week. Or it might mean planning a meal for a friend or a neighbor. Who do you know that could just a little encouragement?

There are so many in our lives that could use a night off: the friends who's kids are having health problems, the mom that's overwhelmed, the neighbor who is unexpectedly hosting family. If you look around, I'm sure you'll someone who could use a night off. So put on your thinking caps and think,... who can you bless with a hot meal?

Friday, February 13, 2015

Here's an Intentional Act of Kindness to practice in your own family. It's so nice to step out from the shower and be greeted with a warm towel. But how often do we take the time to practice this guesture?

This week, why not warm your children's or husband's towel for them while they're in the shower or bath. Greet them with a warm smile and a warm towel as they step out. It's an easy act of kindness, but one that require intentionality and thoughtfulness.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Do you have a regular date night your spouse? Are you looking to start a regular date night with your spouse? Then this might be the right book for you.

Similar to our 52 First Dates Challenge, these 52 Uncommon Dates will give you ideas and inspiration for scheduling a date night for your marriage. From a Gardening Date to the 5K Date, this book includes setting the scene, making it happen, speaking your spouse's love language, taking it to God, and digging deep in scripture.

This book has a lot to offer. The dates are fun and engaging. My word of caution is that most of them are out of the house dates. As a young mom of three, many of them weren't manageable in our present stage of life. I'm hanging on to this one for the future, but for now, I'm also mixing with some of our own ideas.

Monday, February 9, 2015

Technology has been a great tool in our home, especially when it comes to homeschooling. And while we try to limit our time, there have been some great programs that we've found to supplement our studies. These are our 10 favorite educational shows for elementary age kids:

Liberty's Kids

Journey through history as James, Sarah, and Henri discover what early America

A great supplement for our history unit

Martha Speaks
I love this program for introducing new vocabulary

The Jeff Corwin Experience

Adventure, nature experiences, exotic animals...

what elementary age kid wouldn't love it?

Wild Kratts
Follow Chris and Martin as they learn about new animals..
by becoming animals themselves

Friday, February 6, 2015

We're at it again... making more play dough. This time, the kids wanted to experiment with scent so we thought we'd make this Pink Lemonade Playdough. It smells so good. Even I was having a hard time not eating it.

We really started with our basic play dough recipe then added some Crystal Light packets we had left over from our Skinny Raspberry Lemonade Cake. You can also use a Kool-aid packet, but this is what we had. I love the feeling of this cooked play dough; it's so much like the original. And the color and smell this this one a winner for Valentine's Day!

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

We celebrated the 100th Day of School last week. Now before you think I'm super mom, let me show you just how low key, but absolutely fun our day was...

We started the morning by studying in our poetry unit. We read Emma Dilemma the day before and studied some of the poems. So on Friday, we started by creating our own poems about someone was have a dilemma with. Who is someone in your own life that you have a love/hate relationship with? Write about it! Curiously enough, they both picked their brother to write about and that made for some funny conversation. This might have actually turned into a therapy session for the kids. :-)

After morning break, I told them that they were off the hook for math and we made cookies instead. Noah practiced his fractions by helping me half the recipe while Lydia and Josiah just practiced their listening skills with helping measure.

While the cookies baked, the kids watched the first episode of Little House on the Prairie. We've been studying the early pioneers to California and this was just a fun way to catch a glimpse of what their life was like.

Lunch was Mac and Cheese (a rare treat in our house). The kids were excited and truthfully so was I.

While Noah went to Lego class at the charter, Lydia and I worked on vertebrates. Tuesdays and Fridays are her favorite afternoons 'cause she loves science and I think she's really going to love this unit we're starting.

So all in all, our 100th Day of School was super low key. We didn't have a huge party with lots of projects lined up. Instead, it was a day to celebrate how far we've come this school year. The kids have learned about borrowing and factions, mixed numbers and telling time, poetry, inference, lots of vocabulary, California missions and pioneers, World Explorers and Squanto, matter, soil, fossils, and so much more. Our 100th Da of School was a change to take a breather and just enjoy being together. And that's really what homeschooling is about after all!